Neutrogena second to Cape Horn

Neutrogena, lying in the Barcelona World Race, passed the longitude of Cape Horn this morning at 02:12 UTC this morning, 58 days, 14 hours and 12 minutes since setting sail on 31 December. Her crew of Guillermo Altadill and Chilean José Muñoz had an authentic 'Cape Horn' experience passing the maritime world's most famous landmark in 40 knot winds and big formed waves before turning to climb the Atlantic.

It is the seventh time Altadill has passed the most southernmost corner of the planet, while for Muñoz it was the second time in a around the world race.

Neutrogena passed through one of the most dangerous and feared sea passages 73 hours and 19 minutes after the race leader, Cheminées Poujoulat which is now maing good progress up the south Atlantic.

Altadill and Muñoz fought hard and closed on Stamm and Le Cam crossing the Indian Ocean, but had to make a 24 hours pit stop in Bluff, South Island, New Zealand, to repair their charging system.

Since they restarted into the Pacific they have fought a close duel with rival GAES Centros Auditivos, who are expected to round the Horn eight hours after Neutrogena.

On his seventh passage of the Horn Altadill said: "Cape Horn represents the history of ocean sailing. It represents leaving behind the Indian and Pacific and beginning the climb North. So far we have done almost five weeks sailing eastward, now we’ll sail to the North, and this changes a lot. The conditions of the South are a little tougher, much more stress on board, when you go north the temperature rises... by comparison it becomes more relaxed."

Described as "exciting" and "mythical" by Muñoz, who was sailing past his home country, the Chilean sailor has dedicated a tribute to his friend and compatriot Felipe Cubillos, who died in plane crash in 2011, two years after finishing the Global Ocean Race with José Muñoz on board the Class40 Desafio Cabo de Hornos: "He motivated me, helped me and encouraged me to fulfill the dream of being able to put a Chilean entry into international races, and now as the only South American in the Barcelona World Race, I feel the responsibility and motivation to encourage more people from my country to enjoy offshore sailing."

It is anticipated that GAES Centros Auditivos will pass Cape Horn during the morning on Saturday in third place of the Barcelona World Race, and eight hours after Neutrogena. On board, Anna Corbella and Gerard Marín recognised they are already "tired of the Great South" and want to head for "a little more human conditions" after more than a month at sea in the Indian and Pacific oceans.